Golf Tool

ABSTRACT

A golf tool including: a body having first and second longitudinal ends and oppositely disposed faces; a conical receptacle in one of the body faces, between the first and second longitudinal ends of the body, and opening towards the first longitudinal end of the body; a blade edge positioned within the conical receptacle; and a plurality of elongated tines longitudinally extending from the first longitudinal end of the body.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority of U.S. Provisional Patent ApplicationSer. No. 60/860,181, entitled GOLF TOOL, filed Nov. 20, 2006, the entiredisclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference as if being setforth herein.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to golf related apparatus, andmore particularly to divot or ball mark repair tools.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

When a golfer strikes a golf ball that lands on a golf green, a ballmark or divot in the green may result. It is often desirable to promptlyrepair such a ball mark or divot, in order to repair resulting damageand encourage green healing.

Further, golfers often use a pencil to keep score throughout a round ofgolf.

Divot repair tools and golf scoring pencils are generally known. Forexample, U.S. Pat. No. 5,562,553, entitled MULTI-PURPOSE GOLFER'S TOOL,the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated as if being setforth in its entirety herein, discloses a divot repair tool. The toolincludes a detailed mechanism, such that it may prove undesirablycomplex or expensive to manufacture though.

By way of further example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,733,402, entitled GOLF BALLMARK REPAIR TOOL AND SCORING PENCIL, the entire disclosure of which isalso hereby incorporated as if being set forth in its entirety herein,discloses another divot repair tool. The divot repair tool of the '402patent is simpler than that of the '553 patent, but doesn't include anyfeature for sharpening a pencil. Indeed, the '402 patent itself espousesthat a golf pencil does not typically need to be sharpened, and that anew pencil may be readily obtained after each round.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A golf tool including: a body having first and second longitudinal endsand oppositely disposed faces; a conical receptacle in one of the bodyfaces, between the first and second longitudinal ends of the body, andopening towards the first longitudinal end of the body; a blade edgepositioned within the conical receptacle, and a plurality of elongatedtines longitudinally extending from the first longitudinal end of thebody.

The body may further include a load bearing substantiallysemi-hemispherical surface adjacent the conical receptacle and oppositefrom the first longitudinal end, wherein the load bearing surfacelongitudinally supports the tines and conical receptacle when opposingloads are applied to the tines or receptacle and load bearing surface.

The load bearing surface may be substantially as wide as the conicalreceptacle. The conical receptacle may be at least partially in aprotrusion that forms the substantially semi-hemispherical surface.

The tines may be directed at an obtuse angle relative to the body. Aplurality of bracing members may extend between the tines and body.

An aperture through the body, proximate the second longitudinal end maybe provided.

The body may be monolithic, and formed of plastic and/or metal.

A second receptacle may be provided in the body, wherein the secondreceptacle is sized and shaped to detachably receive a disk-like ballmarker. A magnet may be adhered within the second receptacle. The secondreceptacle may be in the first face of the body.

The outer edges of the tines may be tapered inwardly from the body.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Understanding of the present invention will be facilitated byconsideration of the following detailed description of the preferredembodiments of the present invention taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, in which like numerals refer to like parts, and:

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a golf tool housing accordingto an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a side view of the embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 illustrates an end view of the embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 illustrates an A-A cross-section view of the embodiment of FIG.2;

FIG. 5 illustrates a B-B cross-section view of the embodiment of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 illustrates a D-D cross-section view of the embodiment of FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 illustrates a detail view of a portion of the embodiment of FIG.5;

FIG. 8 illustrates various views of a blade suitable for use with theembodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 illustrates the embodiment of FIG. 1 and the blade of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 illustrates the housing embodiment of FIG. 1 incorporating theblade of FIG. 8, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 11 illustrates a side-view of the embodiment of FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 illustrates an end-view of the embodiment of FIG. 10;

FIG. 13 illustrates a detail view of a portion of the embodiment of FIG.10;

FIG. 14 illustrates a perspective view of a golf tool housing accordingto another embodiment of the present invention, and also suitable foruse with the blade of FIG. 8;

FIG. 15 illustrates a perspective view of a golf tool housing accordingto another embodiment of the present invention, and also suitable foruse with the blade of FIG. 8; and,

FIG. 16 illustrates a perspective view of a golf tool housing accordingto another embodiment of the present invention, and also suitable foruse with the blade of FIG. 8.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

It is to be understood that the figures and descriptions of the presentinvention have been simplified to illustrate elements that are relevantfor a clear understanding of the present invention, while eliminating,for purposes of clarity, many other elements found in typical divot orball mark repair tools and pencil sharpeners. However, because suchelements are well known in the art, and because they do not facilitate abetter understanding of the present invention, a discussion of suchelements is not provided herein. The disclosure herein is directed toall such variations and modifications known to those skilled in the art.

Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a perspective view of a golf toolhousing 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. As canbe seen therein, housing 100 generally includes an elongated grippingportion 110 and longitudinally extending tines 122, 124—that may beconventionally utilized as a divot repair tool. The illustratedembodiment of housing 100 has a rounded end 182 distal from tines 122,124. The width of the illustrated gripping portion 110 is slightlytapered from the rounded end 182 toward the tines 122, 124. Outer edges180 of the gripping portion 110 are convexly rounded to minimize sharpedges. While the illustrated embodiment includes two tines 122, 124 anda particularly shaped gripping portion 110, other configurations ofshapes and extensions may be used in addition to or in lieu of theillustrated shape and two tines.

In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 1, gripping portion 110 includesan aperture 116 there-through. The illustrated aperture 116 is round anddistal from the tines 122, 124, nearer end 182. Aperture 116 may besized so as to accept a conventional key-ring, for example. Otherconfigurations may be used though.

In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 1, gripping portion 110 has twosubstantially planer faces 118, 119 being oppositely disposed from oneanother (see FIGS. 2 and 10 as well). Planer faces 118, 119 can bedecaled or otherwise printed or marked, with graphics and/or adhesivestickers, for example. Indeed, the relative shape and size ofillustrated gripping portion 110 relative to tines 122, 124 may provewell-suited for use as advertising space, relative to any surface of thetools of the '553 or '402 patent, for example.

In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 1, outermost edges 184 of tines122 and 124 are tapered toward the longitudinal tips of tines 122 and124, such that the overall width of the housing at the tip of the tines122 and 124 (across both tines 122, 124) is about a third of the widthof the housing where the base of tines 122 and 124 meet gripping portion110. The inner edges 186 of tines 122 and 124 are tapered slightlytoward the tip of tines 122 and 124, such that at the base of tines 122and 124 a gap between tines 122 and 124 is about half the width of a gapat the tip of tines 122 and 124.

In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 1, housing 100 also includes athickened housing portion 132. Housing portion 132 includes a conicalreceptacle 130, proximate an end of the gripping portion 110 near tines122 and 124. Receptacle 130 opens towards tines 122, 124. Receptacle 130is sized to receive an end of a golf scoring pencil for sharpening.Other configurations may be used though.

In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 1, receptacle 130 includes alongitudinally oriented, elongated slot 133. An elongated, sharp edge ofa blade coupled to housing 100 (see, FIGS. 8-10 for example) may extendthrough slot 133 and into receptacle 130 to provide a pencil sharpeningmechanism. When a pencil is inserted into receptacle 130 and rotated ina pre-determined direction, such a blade edge may engage and sharpen theinserted end of such a pencil in a conventional manner.

In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 1, housing portion 132 has asubstantially semi-hemispherical shape that spans substantially theentire width of face 118 of gripping portion 110 where gripping portion110 adjoins tines 122, 124. Housing portion 132 smoothly levels to face118 about a quarter of the distance between where the gripping portion110 adjoins tines 122, 124 and rounded end 182. Such a configuration mayexhibit enhanced structural rigidity where gripping portion 110 andhousing portion 132 meet, and provide a single surface 135 (which iscurved in the illustrated embodiment) that is well-suited for loadbearing during both pencil sharpening and divot repairing. Otherconfigurations may be used though.

The illustrated embodiment of FIG. 1 further includes bracing members192, 194 between tines 122, 224 and the housing portion 132. Bracingmembers 192, 194 span from housing portion 132 to between about a thirdand a half the distance from where the tines 122, 124 adjoin thegripping portion 110 and the tips of the tines 122, 124. Bracing members1192, 194 may serve to provide added rigidity to when tines 122, 124 areused for repairing divots.

In certain embodiments of the present invention housing 100 may bemolded from any suitable plastic in a conventional manner, and/or may becomposed of other materials, such as metal, for example. Otherconventional manufacturing techniques, such as machining, may be used.In certain embodiments, housing 100 (including gripping portion 110,housing portion 132 and tines 122, 124, as well as surface 135 andbraces 192, 194, in the illustrated embodiment) may be unitarily formed,as a single molded piece. Such a configuration is simpler than that ofthe '553 patent.

Housing 100 may be composed of a combination of materials, such as anembodiment having a plastic gripping section 110, housing 132 that areadjoined to metal tines 122, 124. Each of the parts could be composed ofseparate materials, such as plastic or metal, and produced throughconventional manufacturing techniques.

Referring now also to FIGS. 2 and 3, there are shown side- and end-viewsof housing 100 of FIG. 1. As can be seen therein, tines 122, 124 may bedirected at an angle θ relative to the gripping portion 110. In certainembodiments of the invention, angle θ may be about 40 degrees or less.Other configurations may be used though. FIGS. 3-7 show various otherviews of housing 100 of FIG. 1.

Referring now also to FIG. 8, there are shown various views of a blade140 suitable for use with the housing 100 of FIG. 1 to facilitate thesharpening of a golf pencil, such as by a golfer during a round of golf.Blade 140 may be attached to the receptacle housing 132 with a #2 panhead phillips plastite screw affixed within a threaded bore. Blade 140may be affixed such that the sharpened edge protrudes into the pencilreceptacle 130 of the housing 110 of FIG. 1, as shown in FIGS. 9-13, inany conventional manner—such as nailing, screwing, press-fittingand/adhering, all by way of non-limiting example only.

In certain embodiments of the invention, blade 140 may be composed of1095 steel hardness rc 58-60, with a single cutting edge 142 having anabout 19 degree bevel. The blade 140 may be made out of other similarmaterials, such as other metals, composites, or ceramics, for example.

Blade 140 is positioned within or adjacent to receptacle 130 such thatan elongated edge 144 of blade 140 protrudes slightly into receptacle130. Blade 140 may be angled/positioned such that when an end of a golfpencil is fit into receptacle 130, and axially rotated in a givendirection, edge 144 removes at least one portion of the pencil, thussharpening the pencil, in a conventional manner.

Referring again to FIG. 10 for example, face 119 of gripping section 110opposite receptacle housing 132 may have a cavity 114 of suitabledimensions for receiving blade 140 in the manner explained. Cavity 114may span from the receptacle housing 130 (adjacent slot 133) to face119. Blade 140 may be affixed to gripping portion 110 within cavity 114so as to allow for pencil shavings to escape receptacle 130 via cavity114.

Referring now to FIGS. 14 and 15, there are shown perspective views ofgolf tool housings 100 a and 100 b according to embodiments of thepresent invention. The embodiments of FIGS. 14 and 15 additionallyinclude a disc-like, indented receptacle 160 in gripping portion 110.Such an indented receptacle 160 may be particularly well suited fordetachably receiving a disc-like ball marker 164 (as shown in FIG. 16).Such ball markers 164 are conventionally used by golfers to mark theposition of a golf ball on a green, so that the golf ball may be removedfrom the green and later placed back onto the green at a substantiallyidentical location. Ball marker 164 may be composed of metal and/orplastic materials, for example.

Ball marker 164 may be detachably received in the indented receptacle160 in any suitable manner, such as by press-fitting, adhesion and/ormagnetism. The illustrated embodiments of FIGS. 14 and 15 each include asubstantially planar magnet 162 being adhered (such as with acommercially available adhesive) to a lower surface of receptacle 160.When a conventional, metallic ball marker 164 is positionedsubstantially proximate to the magnet 162, it may be retained theiraccording to well-known magnetic principles. For example, a metallicball marker 164 may be retained in the indented receptacle 160.Sufficient physical force to overcome the magnetic attraction may beused to detach the ball marker. Other configurations may be used though.

Referring now to FIG. 16, there is shown a perspective view of golf toolhousing 100 c according to other embodiment of the present invention.The embodiment of FIG. 16 additionally includes an edge opening 170 inthe edge of the gripping portion 110 of the housing 100 c distal to thetines 122, 124, and being suitable for receiving a disc-like, ballmarker 164. Such a slot 170 is generally described in U.S. Pat. No.5,529,299, entitled GOLF ACCESSORY, the entire disclosure of which ishereby incorporated by reference herein.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications andvariations may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of theinvention.

1. A golf tool comprising: a body having first and second longitudinalends and oppositely disposed faces; a conical receptacle in one of thebody faces, between the first and second longitudinal ends of the body,and opening towards the first longitudinal end of the body; a blade edgepositioned within the conical receptacle; and a plurality of elongatedtines longitudinally extending from the first longitudinal end of thebody.
 2. The tool of claim 1, wherein the body further includes a loadbearing substantially semi-hemispherical surface adjacent the conicalreceptacle and opposite from the first longitudinal end, wherein theload bearing surface longitudinally supports the tines and conicalreceptacle when opposing loads are applied to the tines or receptacleand load bearing surface.
 3. The tool of claim 2, wherein the loadbearing surface is substantially as wide as the conical receptacle. 4.The tool of claim 2, further wherein the conical receptacle is at leastpartially in a protrusion that forms the substantiallysemi-hemispherical surface.
 5. The tool of claim 1, wherein the tinesare directed at an obtuse angle relative to the body.
 6. The tool ofclaim 2, further comprising a plurality of bracing members extendingbetween the tines and body.
 7. The tool of claim 1, further comprisingan aperture through the body, proximate the second longitudinal end. 8.The tool of claim 1, wherein the body is monolithic.
 9. The tool ofclaim 8, wherein the body comprises plastic.
 10. The tool of claim 1,wherein the body comprises metal.
 11. The tool of claim 1, furthercomprising a second receptacle in the first face of the body, whereinthe second receptacle is sized and shaped to detachably receive adisk-like ball marker.
 12. The tool of claim 11, further comprising amagnet adhered within the second receptacle.
 13. The tool of claim 1,further comprising a second receptacle in the body, wherein the secondreceptacle is sized and shaped to detachably receive a disk-like ballmarker.
 14. The tool of claim 1, wherein the outer edges of the tinesare tapered inwardly from the body.